The common cold may be caused by variety viruses such as the rhinoviruses and adenoviruses, influenza viruses. More than 95 rhinovirus serotypes have been discovered in relationship to coryza yet there is still no effective treatment in orthodox medicine. Homeopathy, on the other hand, works directly on strengthening the immune system allowing it to overcome the virus and establish more immunity to it in the future. Not all colds, however, are caused by viruses in the first place. Some acute coryza may have other causes, such as the elimination of waste products, specific allergens or pollution.

The incubation period is usually 18 to 48 hour after exposure after which the onset is often rather abrupt. The symptoms often start with a scratchy, itchy, or burning throat, followed by sneezing, a clear watery discharge, and varying degrees of malaise. This may be followed by a hacking cough, laryngitis, tracheitis with substernal tightness and burning discomfort, and mild bronchitis in those who are susceptible. In the adult a cold is usually a-febrile although it may cause a mild fever (100 to 102 F) in infants and small children. Complications include sinusitis, swollen glands, tonsillitis, ear infections, bronchitis, and secondary infections marked by purulent sputum.

A common cold usually follows four distinct stages that assist in choosing the correct remedies. The first is mark by the scratchy throat, clear discharge, sneezing, and malaise. The second is marked by a white creamy discharge, less sneezing and a tight, hacking or tickling, itching, irritating cough, sore throats, and fever and chill. The third is marked by a yellowish discharge,, loose coughs, and pain in the chest. The fourth stage is marked by greenish or brownish discharges, the coughing up of lumps and plugs, and soreness deep in the lungs. After this fourth phase, the coryza may dry up and convalescence begun, or complication arises that continue toward a chronic state. Bed red and plenty of fluids is advised for those who are strongly affected.

Materia Medica

Aconite (2): First stage. Coryza caused by cold, dry winds, dry at first with violent headache, roaring in ears, fever, sleeplessness, heat and sense of fullness in nares, and muscles sore all over body so that sneezing forces him to support chest. Fluent coryza with frequent sneezing and dropping of clear, hot watery discharge, inner nose swollen, red, interfering with breathing. Better > in cool room and open air.

Allium Cepa (3): Colds with streaming discharges from the eyes and nose, with headache and frequent sneezing. Profuse acrid discharges from the nose corroding the lip and nose and bland lachrymation from the eyes (reverse of Euphr.). Violent laryngitis, tickling in larynx. cough seems to split and tear the larynx, grasp larynx when coughing. Hot and thirsty. Worse < evenings, indoors, warm room. Better > in open air.

Arsenicum (3): Thin watery discharges from nose that excoriates the upper lip, while nose is stuffed up all the time. Always taking cold in the nose, from every change of weather, colds begins in the nose and drops to the chest. Always chilly, hovers round the fire, can't get enough clothes on. Chilly with burning, relieved by heat. Thirst for frequent drinks in sips. Restless, anxious, morbidity fastidious and exhausted.

Arum Triph (2): Nostril raw and bloody, person bores and picks at bloody surfaces, worse < morning. Continuous discharges of burning ichorous fluid from nose, excoriating Nostril upper lip and corner of moth, nose stuffed, can only breathe with mouth open. Bores and picks in nose till it bleeds, worse mornings. Sneezing, worse < night, can hardly talk on account of phlegm in back part of throat, Snuffles of babies.

Bryonia (2): Often begins in the nose, sneezing, coryza running at nose, lachrymation, aching eyes, nose and head the first day, then trouble goes down posterior nares, throat, larynx with hoarseness and bronchitis which may end in pleurisy and pneumonia. Extreme dryness, dry spasmodic, hard, racking, expectoration scanty, lips dry and parched, thirsty for large drinks. Cough with stitches in chest, with headache as if the head would fly to pieces. Irritable, wants to lie still and be left alone, Cough worse < at night, after eating and drinking, entering warm room, on taking a deep inspiration. Worse < cold, dry weather.

Camphor (1): Useful at the very beginning of a cold before the catarrhal symptoms have begun. Feels chilled, can not get warm, yet wants to be uncovered. Can abort the entire process if given early during the chill. Fluent coryza on sudden change of weather, violent stitching or crawling, from the root of the nose almost to the tip.

Dulcamara (1): Colds from cold, wet weather and snow, from getting wet, or chilled when heated. Worse < sudden changes of from hot to cold. Dry coryza, sore throat, stiff neck and limb painful. More fluent in warm or house less fluent in cold air, cold room. Starts sneezing in a cold room, nose stuffs up in cold rain.

Eupatorium Perf (3) Coryza with deep aching in every bone, and lassitude. Fluent coryza with sneezing and hoarseness, weight over head and forehead, nose and eyes both streaming with water at intervals.

Euphrasia (3): Burning coryza, increasing in the evening, with fluent flow of tears and cough. Mild discharge from the nose with acrid tears from the eyes (reverse Euphr.), aversion to light, worse < at night while lying down. Cough worse < during the day, after windy weather.

Ferr Phos (2): Coryza at the very beginning, frontal headache, better > by nosebleed. Starts with the fever. Chill returning at the same time every day, while sitting at table, and 1 p.m..

Gelsemium (2). Catarrh during warm, moist, relaxing weather, with excoriating discharge form the nose, making the nostrils and wings of nose raw and sore. Frequent sneezing, sore throat, tonsils red and tumefied. Difficulty swallowing from paretic state of the muscles, great prostration, wants to be left alone. Dullness, heaviness, droopy eyes, muscular soreness, fever without thirst (reverse Bry.).

Kali Bich (3). and other kalis. Catarrhs with great accumulation of ropy mucus and expectoration of solid chunks from posterior nares. Cough with expectoration of tough phlegm which can be drawn into long strings. Pressure and tightness at the root of the nose, sinusitis, loss of smell. Flow of acrid water from nose, excoriating the nostrils causing ulceration (Arum-t., Ars.). Yellowish and greenish discharge.

(a).Kali-m (1): Colds in the second stage with swollen glands, white coated tongue, and white or grayish discharges.

(b). Kali-i (2): Nose is red, swollen, and tender and the face is red. Discharge from the nose feels cold and is acrid and watery. Discharge is yellowish or greenish. Hot and dry, then, alternating drenched with sweat. Alternating heat and chill. Later stages of a cold.

Mercurius (2): Frequent sneezing, copious discharges of watery salvia, swelling, redness and rough scraping soreness of nose, with itching and pain in the nasal bones on pressing. Fetid smell of the nasal mucus. Painful heaviness of forehead, night-sweats, chill and feverish heat, great thirst pain in the limb, worse warmth or old by dampness. Watery, swollen, flabby tongue showing indention of teeth, with thirst. Creeping chilliness. Painful teeth and jaws with swollen glands. Suspicious, cautious, introverted, hurried, and at times slow and hesitant. Worse from cold and heat.

Natrum Mur (2): Catarrh that is watery, or thick whitish, like white of egg "raw or cooked". Colds with abnormal quantity of secretion with paroxysms of sneezing. Fluent alternating with dry catarrh. Watery vesicles about lips and wings of nose, cold sore and herpes. Cough with bursting headache (Bry.). Urine spurt when coughing. Depressed, serious, feels weepy but only cries when alone, worse < consolation. Craves salt. Tongue is clean, watery, with small bubbles.

Nux Vomica (2): During the first stage, dryness and obstruction of the nose, with heaviness in the forehead and angry, impatient mood. Catarrh fluent in the morning and dry in the evening and at night, with dryness of the mouth without much thirst, worse < in warm air, better in cold air. Sneezing early in bed, scraping in the nose and throat, chills and heat alternate in the evening, with great heat of the face and head, acrid discharge from the obstructed nose, stoppage of the nose, particularly out-doors, but fluent indoors. Worse < exposures to dry, cold air, sitting on cold stones, etc.

Sulphur (3): Constant sneezing, stoppage of the nose, fluent, like water trickling from the nose, nasal discharges acrid and burning. Dirty looking discharges. Often useful when colds are lingering in individuals who are intellectual, philosophical, eccentric and messy in appearance.

Disclaimer: This information is supplied for educational purposes only. It is not for the treatment of any individual person or disease. If you are suffering any particular complaint please consult a physician or call emergency services.